My 3-year-old RS-TX20 got very sick last night and now seems to be on life-support. At first the picture was doing an "ok for 10 seconds, then frozen for 5 seconds, then ok for 10 seconds" thing. Now it's cycling through "re-start and boot-up" continually, with the boot-up cartoon doing the the freeze-up routine.

I found an authorized Toshiba repair place in my area, but since it's long out of warranty I'll be paying for the repair. If not for the lifetime Tivo contract on the unit, I'd probably just toss it and get a new Series 2 ($80-some at Amazon).

Anyone been in my situation? How did it turn out? (I'm guessing I have a screwed up hard-drive.)

It does sound like a hard drive issue. Are you handy with computers? You can buy a already formatted drive from various sources and just pop it in yourself. I just did this with my RSTX60 and fixed all it's issues and got a massive hard drive to boot. I got my drive from Weaknees, but there are several other sources. If you are very geeky you can even format a drive yourself. Maybe somebody here will offer some details on how to do that.

It is possible that you have a bad power supply. Those are also available online. I have heard some negative things about Toshiba service, so if you go that route good luck.

It does sound like a hard drive issue. Are you handy with computers? You can buy a already formatted drive from various sources and just pop it in yourself. I just did this with my RSTX60 and fixed all it's issues and got a massive hard drive to boot. I got my drive from Weaknees, but there are several other sources. If you are very geeky you can even format a drive yourself. Maybe somebody here will offer some details on how to do that.

Thanks for the advice! I just sent off for a new hard drive from Weaknees. Installation looks very straight-forward. (The "authorized Toshiba repair shop" declined to even look at it, acting like they never heard of the RS-TX20.)

Hey guys..and girls I just bought a bunch of Tivo units and am thinking that maybe I should think about installing a new and maybe even larger hdd on my RS-TX20 since it has that incredible "Lifetime basic" subscription...what do you think? What drives are compatible and any "easy guides" to replacing the hdd? Thanks ever so much, peace!

You also may want to check on eBay. I bought a hard drive from a seller there who does this as a business, and he did all the TIVO software preparations for me as part of his offering, which, in the end due to his great pricing, did not add appreciably (or possibly at all) to the price of the drive, which he had "on sale."

I am having some problems with a software update. When I go to connect to TIVO service it says "Wait till 2am". I restarted the TIVO, I also went back through the Guided Setup, has anyone seen the same problem? I have a wireless adapter attached to the TIVO. Thanks.

I am having some problems with a software update. When I go to connect to TIVO service it says "Wait till 2am". I restarted the TIVO, I also went back through the Guided Setup, has anyone seen the same problem? I have a wireless adapter attached to the TIVO. Thanks.

Yea that happened to me the other night trying to force an update on my TivoHD! I unplugged the Tivo for a minute and eventually got the update installed...as I recall

I just recently replaced/upgraded the hard drive in my TX-20, and now I'm sitting here and trying to figure out why I am only able to program only what's scheduled on TV for tonight. I can't even program Survivor for tomorrow night?? Why is that?

On "Find Programs" at the bottom is a black box that says "Today's program info available now, more info is on the way". Does it usually take that long to schedule programming?

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. | To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I've got a RS-TX60 with TiVo Lifetime subscription. TiVo's official policy appears to be that they transfer lifetime subscriptions only in limited circumstances. (Although I have an extended warranty through Mack, I'm sure the factory warranty is expired by now.)

I just got an HDTV, and I'm surprised at how bad my picture is compared to what it could be (even standard definition broadcasts look noticeably worse going through TiVo at "Best Quality" than the same signal going directly into the TV). I'd like to view everything I can in HD, so I'm considering getting an HD TiVo.

Questions:

1. The fact that TiVo degrades standard definition signals worries me that an HD TiVo would do the same. Will it?

2. Since my current TiVo came with TiVo Basic service, I'd like to transfer the Lifetime Service to a new TiVo and use the RS-TX60 in another room. Is there any possibility of getting TiVo to transfer my Lifetime Service? I don't fit into the three categories I see at tivo.com (bought within 30 days, wrong # registered, or warranty still in effect), but I've heard they've made exceptions to that policy in the past.

3. If I can transfer the Lifetime Service, is there any way to activate Multi-Room Viewing between two TiVos, one with Basic and one with Lifetime?

4. If not, can anyone make a recommendation about where to get a good price for my RS-TX60 with Lifetime Service and a 4-year extended warranty?

1. The fact that TiVo degrades standard definition signals worries me that an HD TiVo would do the same. Will it?

For digital channels, the recording is captured in its original form, so no degradation occurs... However, even for analog channels, I think the general consensus is that the HD units do a lot better job at encoding than older units.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerCormeister

2. Since my current TiVo came with TiVo Basic service, I'd like to transfer the Lifetime Service to a new TiVo and use the RS-TX60 in another room. Is there any possibility of getting TiVo to transfer my Lifetime Service? I don't fit into the three categories I see at tivo.com (bought within 30 days, wrong # registered, or warranty still in effect), but I've heard they've made exceptions to that policy in the past.

It's doubtful that you can get TiVo to do a straight-up transfer... If you purchased lifetime before October 1, 2003, you can transfer it to a new TiVo HD for $199 by taking advantage of the following offer:

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. | To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Just got a new Vizio 37" LCD and now need an HD box for a better picture. Charter is coming out this Saturday to swap out the digital box with an HD box. Will they be able to set up my Toshiba RS-TX20 Series 2 unit along with their HD box to the TV? Just bought the RS-TX20 and don’t want to lose the Tivo functionality. Hoping to get some guidance with proper set up and cables before cable guy shows up just in case they say it will not work. I know the Toshiba will not record an HD quality image, but still want the HD quality to come through on the TV from the Charter HD box. Tivo functionality OK in less than HD qaulity. Any suggestions/advise would be greatly appreciated.

Just got a new Vizio 37" LCD and now need an HD box for a better picture. Charter is coming out this Saturday to swap out the digital box with an HD box. Will they be able to set up my Toshiba RS-TX20 Series 2 unit along with their HD box to the TV? Just bought the RS-TX20 and don’t want to lose the Tivo functionality. Hoping to get some guidance with proper set up and cables before cable guy shows up just in case they say it will not work. I know the Toshiba will not record an HD quality image, but still want the HD quality to come through on the TV from the Charter HD box. Tivo functionality OK in less than HD qaulity. Any suggestions/advise would be greatly appreciated.

Let's see, there are 2 ways to set it up, the way I see it.
1st. You could have them setup their HD box normally and then put a coaxial line splitter right before the cable enters your Charter box(then run a short coaxial to charter box and another coaxial to your RS-TX20 then out to the Vizio) in effect you would have to sources/inputs to select on your Vizio.
2nd.run cable to RS-tx20 then to Charter then to Vizio and utilize your IR channel changer/serial cable thingy. The only dislike I have with that setup is it takes forever to change the channel on the cable providers'box.
With the first option, you would be able to record a station while still watching another thru your Charter box(HD watching too).

p.s. where did you ever find an RS-TX20 these days? must have been used....
Don't forget too..if you have problems with the Charter box (which I presume your renting) you could always return it and get yourself a TivoHD for around $200.00 + activation fees.

Thanks for the prompt help slyone. Will both options allow me to see an HD quality picture and use the Tivo to pause, record, etc? Any suggestions for types/qulality of cables to use for these set up? Thanks.

I had to reword above post(in red) as far as HD programming, as I recall...you will not be able to view this on the Tivo or control the pause etc. although not really sure??Maybe someone else would care to chime in on this one! As I recall, I had removed my RS-TX20 from system when I got HD programming,TivoHD and my Plasma. I'm not really sure as to the actual functioning of the RS-TX20 when configured within an HD environment? It seems the RS-TX20 would have to be in front of the HD box and I don't believe it will be able to interpret the signal........
If you split the signal then you would run your RS-TX20 to any available input on back of the Vizio leaving the "best" for the Charter HD signal (hopefully HDMI connector)and then if using HDMI you could use the next "best" component(3 seperate color cable)video or 3rd best RCA video cable for the RS-TX20. By doing this, you would change inputs on remote to view either source.
Cable quality;
1-best-HDMI (also carries audio)
2-next best-component video(3 seperate cables)+ rca for audio
3-better-RCA -1 video(yellow) and 2 audio(red/white)
4-basic-coaxial (video w/audio)

Your TiVo unit does not have a digital tuner and will not tune any digital or HD content. This means that you will not be able to use the TiVo to time shift any digital or HD content. In fact the picture from your TiVo will be noticably worse on your HD tv than the same channel from your cable box or even straight from the wall. It will not be terrible but you will notice it is lower qualiity. There are a few ways of connection the TiVo and the cable box.

1) cable from the wall to a splitter. From the splitter one output goes to the cable box, the other to the TiVo. Connect the cable from the box to one input on the tv (I assume it is using a HDMI cable) The TiVo can be connected several ways including coaxial, component or composite. Depending on your tv's inputs.

2) (this is assuming the cable box has a coaxial pass through output)`Cable from the from the wall to the cable box. Connect the cable box via the HDMI or Component cables. Connect the TiVo to the cable output of the cable box. Connect the TiVo to the TV via component or coaxial. This should give you the best picture quality.

3) Cable from the wall to your TiVo. From the TiVo coaxial pass through output to your cable box. From the TiVo to the component or coaxial input on the TV. From the HDMI on the cable box out to the HDMI on the TV. (This won't give you as good of an HD picture because of signal degradation by passing through the TiVo.

I am sure there are more ways, but these will probably give you the best results. Sorry for the long post.